Lets’ Go, Here We Go!

“Lets’ Go, Here We Go!” is another original instrumental composition in which I try to combine the feel of 60’s instrumental guitar rock with a somewhat more complex musical and harmonic language than was typical for that genre. With this one I tried to get a feel similar to the early 60’s style of surf rock and the Ventures.

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Nothing Ventured

“Nothing Ventured” is another original instrumental composition in which I try to combine the feel of 60’s instrumental guitar rock with a somewhat more sophisticated musical and harmonic language than was typical for that genre. With this one I tried to get a feel similar to the early 60’s style of surf rock and the Ventures.

The Lonely Sea

“The Lonely Sea” is the final track on the Ventures 1963 album “Surfing”. Song writing credit belongs to rhythm guitarist Don Wilson. Although there are some similar chord changes, it is not the same song as the Beach Boy’s “Lonely Sea”, which was written by Brian Wilson (no relation to Don).

My arrangement is based on the Ventures version, but is not just a cover.

Baja

“Baja” was a surf-rock single in 1963. Strictly speaking it was a “hit”, as it did crack the Billboard Hot 100 — peaking at #94. Released by a Colorado-based group called the Astronauts, it was written by Lee Hazlewood, known for being Duane Eddy’s producer and co-writer. It was also covered by the Ventures.

My version starts out in a manner similar to the original, but works in a few rhythmic changes to add a bit of variety.

Mr. Moto

“Mr. Moto” was one of only a few instrumental rock recordings made by the seminal southern California surf-rock band, the Belairs. It was recorded in 1961 and though it had regional success, it never charted nationally. When the group broke up, some members went on to form Eddie and the Showmen.

My version is not a cover, but rather an arrangement as it might have been done by another instrumental rock band at the time.

Mr. Rebel

“Mr. Rebel” was a 1963 single by Eddie and the Showmen, a Southern California surf-rock band than was formed by some former members of the Bel-Airs, one of the very first surf-rock groups. None of their singles ever charted in the USA, but these groups are still considered to have been very influential — along with Dick Dale — in establishing the surf-rock style.

My version here is basically a cover of the original.

Beyond the Reef

“Beyond The Reef” was written by Jack Pitman in Hawaii in 1948. It was first recorded by Hawaiian artist Napua Stevens in 1949. Bing Crosby recorded the song a year later and his recording reached No. 26 on the Billboard pop chart. Elvis Presley recorded a version of the song in 1966 but this recording was never released as a single.

The Ventures included the song on their third album, Another Smash, in 1961. While inspired by them, my instrumental arrangement is quite different from theirs.